For Parents: Helping Your Child Avoid Asthma Triggers

Triggers are things that make your child’s asthma worse. Helping your child avoid triggers helps control your child’s asthma. These pages cover the most common triggers, but your child may have others. Thinking about the things you need to do to reduce triggers can be overwhelming. Start by working to control the ones that affect your child most. Set one or two simple, realistic goals for reducing triggers. Give yourself a deadline. Then, when you meet a goal, set a new one.

Irritants and Other Common Triggers

When a person has asthma, his or her airways are sensitive. These lung irritants affect all people with asthma.

Smoke can trigger asthma. To protect your child:

• If you smoke, quit. This may be the single best thing you can do to control your child’s asthma. Ask your healthcare provider for help in quitting. Contact the American Lung Association to learn about stop-smoking programs and support groups.

• Urge any members of your household who smoke to quit.

• Keep your home and car free of tobacco smoke, incense, and smoke from a fireplace.

• Keep your child out of smoky places.

A cold or the flu can trigger asthma symptoms. To avoid cold and flu germs:

• Have your child wash his or her hands often with plain soap and water. (Use an alcohol-based cleanser when you don’t have access to water.)

• Have your child get a yearly flu shot.

Scents and chemicals can trigger asthma. To reduce these triggers:

• Use unscented pump sprays instead of aerosols.

• Switch to unscented soap, lotion, toilet paper, and cleaning products.

• Don’t use air fresheners or perfume.

• If you have a gas stove, use the exhaust fan when the stove is on. Make sure pilot lights are adjusted properly. (Your utility company can help with this.)

Some types of weather can trigger asthma. Wind spreads pollen and mold. Heat traps air pollution. Cold air can be a trigger all by itself. Of course, you can’t control the weather! So how can you prevent weather from triggering a flare-up? The best way is to make sure your child takes his or her long-term controller medication. If cold air is a trigger, wearing a scarf over the nose and mouth when outside on cold days may help.

Allergy Triggers

In children with asthma, allergies can trigger flare-ups. Some common allergens are listed here. If your child is allergic to any of these triggers, try these tips. Your healthcare provider may have more suggestions.

Dust mites are tiny creatures that live in house dust. Cleaning or removing things that trap dust helps to control them. Start with your child’s bedroom:

• Wash all bedding and stuffed animals weekly in hot (130°F) water.

• Vacuum every week. Using a vacuum with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter is best.

• Put allergen-impermeable covers over pillows and mattresses.

Furry or feathered animals are common sources of allergens. If your child is allergic, keep these animals away from your child. If you have a furry or feathered pet, you can:

• Find the pet a new home. This can be sad, but it is the best option for your child’s health.

• Keep the pet outside. If this is not possible, keep the pet out of the child’s bedroom. Bathe the pet weekly if possible.

• Also be sure that your child has no down (feather) pillows or bedding.

Mold thrives in damp places. To reduce mold:

• Fix leaks.

• Use a dehumidifier to help keep air drier. (30% to 50% humidity is ideal.)

Pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds can cause allergies. If you have an air conditioner, use it during seasons when a lot of pollen is in the air. This lets you keep windows closed, so less pollen gets in.